103-inch Bang & Olufsen TV lands in Singapore

Reuben Lee | Jul 09, 2009

Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-103 (Credit: Bang & Olufsen)

Warning! The Bang & Olufsen (B&O) BeoVision 4-103 is a plasma TV not for the faint-hearted. For one, it has a humongous 103-inch panel, which is probably one of the largest in the market today. (The only competitor we can think of is Panasonic's 103-inch plasma TV.)

For a display this size, B&O recommends a minimum viewing distance of 4.5m for the best visual experience. In a nutshell, you'll need to have a pretty big living room to accommodate a TV like this. As a matter of interest, the TV weighs 250kg, the motorized stand another 250kg, which add up to daunting 500kg for the entire system?

The shocker, however, is really its price. According to the Danish firm, the BeoVision 4-103 will retail for S$230,000 (US$166,558.04) in Singapore. That's a six-figure sum that can easily net you a decent small apartment in many parts of Asia. In Singapore where cars are overpriced, that's the sticker price for a BMW Z4 Roadster.

A tiny camera flips down when the Automatic Color Management function is activated.

Did we mention that to pair it with B&O speakers for a full audio-visual experience, you'll need to cough up another S$80,000 (US$57,933.23). Chump change for some, we're sure.

To be fair, the BeoVision 4-103 does live up to its premium status with some very nifty features. There's the Automatic Color Management function, which calibrates the color temperature of the plasma display for optimum image reproduction. Upon activation (either manually or programmed for every 100 hours of usage), a tiny camera flips down at the top of the screen to analyze test patterns and make the necessary adjustments, all in under 30 seconds. The panel itself is treated with an anti-reflection coating for better clarity during day-time viewing.

The ports and and connectors are hidden neatly in a concealed section behind the TV.

But what's really cool is the mammoth motorized stand. Powered by two gas actuators (and backed up by two gas springs), it lifts the screen when the TV is switched on, and brings it back down when turned off. It can also be swiveled to turn (up to 40 degrees) to the sides and tilted (up to 4 degrees) upward/downward. The B&O TV also features a built-in DVB HD module for reception of digital broadcasts, an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness control as well as a storage compartment behind the panel for A/V consoles.

There is a compartment behind the TV for storing consoles.

In addition to the full-HD 103-inch panel and motorized stand, the 4-103 also comes with the BeoSystem 3 video platform, super-cool Beo 5 remote control and Bespoke BeoLab 10 center speaker.

You can't buy the BeoVision 4-103 off the shelf. It will be built only upon confirmation of an order and take up to three months. Those planning to plonk down money for this can heave a sigh of relief over the two-year international warranty.

While Singapore is the only stop in Asia where the 4-103 will be showcased for a limited time, the TV is available for sale in Southeast Asia and Australia. It was launched earlier in the US, Dubai and Moscow.

For comparison purposes, Panasonic's 103-inch plasma is retailing for about S$100,000 (US$72,416.54). The Beovision 4 series also comes in smaller 50- and 65-inch panel options, sans the motorized stand.

Filed under: Home AV, Luxury
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